Orissa To Stop Commercial Use Of Lord Jagannath

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Press Trust of India - Bhubaneswar, March 22

 

Orissa Government would soon come up with a 'culture policy' to stop the blatant "commercialisation" of Lord Jagannath of Puri, state Panchayatiraj Minister Damodar Rout told the assembly today.

 

The minister's announcement came after Speaker Sarat Kumar Kar directed the state government to take necessary steps to stop the "desecration and commercialisation" of Lord Jagannath.

 

"Government would take some definite measures immediately to stop commercial use of the Lord Jagannath's name," Rout said adding it would soon come out with a culture policy which would include banning vulgar displays of the Lord.

 

The speaker's direction came in response to pleas by many members, both from treasury and the opposition benches, about the blatant misuse of Lord Jagannath's name in cheap cassettes, and albums telecast by Doordarshan.

 

The issue was raised during zero hour by the ruling BJP member Maheswar Sahu, while other members including government chief whip Pradip Maharathi, Maheswar Mohanty (BJD), Suresh Kumar Routroy (Congress) expressed concerns over the display of images of Jagannath on crockeries and vehicles, besides for commercial purposes. This would destroy the sanctity of Jagannath culture, they said.